Cookware - Saucepans

A guide on choosing and buying saucepans

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If you are interested in cooking and want to stock your kitchen correctly, selecting the right pots and pans is an important first step. However, the sheer variety of cookware shapes and sizes can be overwhelming.

This guide will demonstrate some of the most popular saucepans to help you decide what you need, types to buy and how much to spend.

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What saucepans do you need?

Large Stockpot
A 2 gallon (8 quart) stockpot is very useful when cooking for guests or making large batches of soup or chilli to freeze and reheat later. You can also use it as the bottom part of a double boiler, for melting chocolate or mixing up a rich Hollandaise sauce. A large stockpot is also a great addition in a large family for cooking up stews and casseroles.

Mid-Sized Saucepans
Saucepans come in every size from tiny to enormous, but since you already have a large stockpot, it�s a good idea to pick a smaller saucepan. A 1 quart saucepan is ideal for cooking small portions of vegetables or using with your large stockpot as the top part of a double boiler. If that seems a little small for you or you have a large family, then select a 2 quart saucepan instead.

Large Saut� Pan
Whether it�s cooking chicken breasts for a dinner party or preparing a one-pan breakfast of eggs, bacon, and pancakes all in one pan, a large saut� pan will come in handy. A fourteen-inch pan that is also safe for use in the oven is a good, flexible addition to your cookware.

Small Frying Pan
If you want to whip up something small and simple, such as a grilled cheese sandwich or a single serving of seared salmon, a small frying pan is an essential item to have in your kitchen. Eight inches is a good size for this purpose.

Flame Proof Casserole Dish
Whilst not strictly a saucepan, to round out your cooking ensemble, select a medium-sized flame proof casserole dish for those favourite tuna casseroles or chicken dishes. For maximum flexibility, select one that can be used on the stove top (flame proof not just heat proof), in the microwave as well as in the oven.

With these five items, you�ll be well on your way to a well-stocked kitchen with all of the cookware that you need to cook your favourite meals.